Hunted Sorcery (Jon Oklar Book 2), B.T. Narro [digital book reader txt] 📗

turned his attention to the king. “I don’t think she did this, sire.”

“Then who do you think did?”

He put his hand on his chin. “I want to know more about this other noble family.”

“I already told you none of them could have put a callring in Kataleya’s room.”

Leon looked at Barrett. “I know you say you trust him, sire, but I’m not so sure.”

Barrett appeared so offended I wondered if it was an act. He took a breath and glanced at the king.

“Sire, Nykal…”

Nykal put up his hand. “I know it’s not you, Barrett. Leon, how much does Kataleya actually know about ordia?”

“I don’t know. We never spoke about it. Jennava?”

Jennava looked at Kataleya, who shrugged in frustration as another tear fell down her cheek.

“We haven’t spoken about it,” Jennava told the king.

“I’ve mostly studied mana in the range of fire and water,” Kataleya said, some hope in her tone. “I’ve heard of binding contracts and enchants, but never callrings before Charlie and Eden brought them up.” She paused. “What can I do to prove this? There must be something.”

“You are to do nothing right now,” Nykal said. “Barrett take her to her room and finish the search for anything else that might be enchanted. I will explain the rest to the other sorcerers.”

“Please, sire!” Kataleya pleaded. “There has to be some way to prove my innocence! I never would do anything to hurt you…or anyone here! Aliana, Eden…” She held her gaze on them.

Eden opened her mouth but didn’t say anything. Aliana looked down.

“Reuben!” Kataleya said, her head swinging to him.

“I don’t know you that well, Kataleya,” Reuben said nervously.

“She’s been a good friend,” Aliana said.

“She has,” Eden added, then put her hand over the back of her neck. “I trusted…I trust her, I mean.”

I also felt like I trusted her. Kataleya had always been open and straightforward with me. She’d taught me about mana before Leon had. She’d explained how water and other elements could be made from mana. She’d complimented my looks and defended me against Reuben, when he’d been quite a bother before I’d saved his life. I’d always enjoyed the time I’d spent with Kataleya.

She didn’t seem so dumb as to leave a callring in her room, but was my heart speaking for me in this matter? It hurt to see her beautiful face contorted in pain. It didn’t seem that Nykal allowed pity to take a role in his decision, and I wasn’t sure it should for the rest of us, either. Someone was a traitor. Someone might bring great harm to us. We needed to find out who.

“This is not about her being a good friend,” Nykal said. “Cason and Jennava were once good friends. It proves nothing. Kataleya, go willingly with Barrett and you will be heard again. Refuse, and you will be held in the dungeon instead of your room.”

Barrett gestured for her to walk ahead of him as he turned.

She huffed out in anger, then stomped off, Barrett close behind.

“Now will you explain?” Charlie complained to the king.

Charlie hadn’t even waited until Kataleya was out of earshot, but I’m sure everyone knew he didn’t mean to offend.

“Yes, Charlie.” The king let out his breath as he watched Kataleya enter the apartments. “If Cason had gathered an army in Koluk, I would’ve needed coin to support an army to stand against him. Coin that I do not have.”

“So what would you do?” Charlie asked.

“I would have to impose a crisis tax on the kingdom. I would send out tax collectors to gather the necessary coin to pay for this army. I had figured this might be necessary one day soon, and I had figured Cason would’ve been aware of the tax collectors. I had assumed he would try to take the capital or Tryn before I could pay enough men to squash his rebellion. He would still lose in the end, however. Even if he did take a city, eventually he would be defeated. Unless, of course, more troops from Rohaer came to his aid, but the snow prevents large numbers of them from traveling. Are all of you following?”

We nodded.

Nykal continued, “However, according to one of the dark mages from Rohaer, Cason never planned to take any other city besides Koluk. He was only to use the threat of attacking so I would collect a crisis tax. His true plan was to strike the tax collectors after they had gathered coin. To do this, he would have to know how many there were, where they were, and what kind of protection was with them. Only two men besides myself would know this information. One is Luther Prigg and the other is Whitley Yorn, Kataleya’s father. They know because they must. The tax collectors would be traveling through land that the two men oversee. I require their support to offer my collectors aid. If one of them was working with Cason, you might see how easy it would be to ensure maximum coin is taken.”

“Oh, I understand,” Charlie said. “And you think it’s Kataleya’s father and not Luther Prigg because it has to be someone who has already been getting information about us to Cason.”

“Yes, and the callring, of course. I’m holding the other two callrings you made. This other was brought into the castle or even made here in order to signal something to my enemies.”

“This Luther Prigg could be setting up Kataleya,” Leon said.

“I have told you too many times that no one associated with him has been to the castle in weeks!”

“So it’s someone you don’t know is associated with him!” Leon argued.

“Leon, you will be quiet and listen to my plan. Then I will take your input.”

Leon seemed to be holding his breath before he nodded.

“Can I ask something?” I tried.

“Certainly, Jon.”

“What was Cason going to do with all this coin? It might give us a hint as to what he plans now.”

We still hadn’t informed the king what had occurred just a few streets away from